Celebrated for his boundless creativity through diverse genres, Rufus Wainwright unveils his Dream Requiem on 14 June 2024. This composition masterfully integrates Byron's apocalyptic poem Darkness with the traditional Latin text of the Requiem mass. Inspired by the worldwide pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and influenced by Wainwright's profound encounter with Verdi's Requiem in his earlier years, the work is a transformative experience. The world premiere of Dream Requiem was offered to EBU radio organizations by Radio France. The work will be performed by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Chorus and Children's Chorus of Radio France with soprano Anna Prohaska, under the baton of Mikko Franck. To accompany this offer, Rufus Wainwright gave an exclusive interview, as part of the Music Unit's Music and Radio 60-minute sessions.
Rufus Wainwright, Composer, Singer and Songwriter
Michael Berkeley, Composer and Broadcaster, BBC Radio 3 (interviewer)